Exercising and massaging device



Jan 24-, 1933. I. H. WILSEY 1,895,116.,

EXERCISING AN D MASSAGING DEVICE Filec} July 18, 1929 i 5 I a i i z 4 i a ezza 30612131.- JQ/Bw Jf. 10120569,

Patented Jan. 24, 1933 f UNITED STATES;

IBVEN H. wILsEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS EXERCISING- AND MASSAGING DEVICE Application met Jul 19,

This invention relates generally to exercising and massaging devices and more particularly has reference to' that type of device which is characterized by the fact that, in

operation, the machine is held in the operators hand and applied directly to the body part to be treated. r

The general object of the invention isto produce a portable exercising ormassaging machine of a type which is distinctlynew and different from those heretofore known, and to this end the invention provides a vibratory device of long and narrow or cylindrical shape having handles at opposite ends adapt ed to be grasped in the two hands of the operator and by which the device may be rolled or moved back and forth upon the part'of the body to be treated.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of this character which comprises an applicator and means contained therein for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the applicator.

r A further obj ect is to produce amachine of this character in which the casing of the machine reciprocates and'constitutes the applicator. '1

A further object is to provide a device comprising two relatively vibratory sections both of which are fashioned to be grasped in the operators hand so that either section may be held while the other section vibratesQ Another object is to provide a machine comprising a cylindrical casing which constitutes the applicator and means Within said casing for impartingvibratory movement thereto, said means having handles projecting from opposite ends of the device and adapted to be grasped by the operator whereby the device as 0 a whole may be moved back and forth with the vibrating casing in engagement with the part to be treated.

Another object is to provide a device comprising a vibratory applicator of rounded or cylindrical shape adapted to. be rolled upon the surface of the part to be treated.

Further objects and advantages relating to details of construction and. operation of the machine will be understood from the following description taken in connection 1929. 1 Serial m5. 379,098.

with theaccompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 .is a central longitudinal section of a device embodying the invention. v r

Fig. 2 is a similar section taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of the section inFig.l. f Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. V 1 T v Fig. 4 likewise is a transversesection taken on the line 4l of Fig. 1. l

Fig. Eris a fragmentary detail view showing, incentral section, a modified construction of the connectionbetween the inner and out- .er sections of the device. j

In its broadconce'pt theinvention contemplates the provision .of two sections, one of which is mounted within the other to form a unitary structure. The inner and outer sections are adapted for movement through-a limited distance relative to each other, and the inner section carries a motor which is drivingly connected to'theouter section for effecting such movement. Theoutersection is smoothlyfinished to provide a surface for engaging a part of the body to bejmassaged, whereby the outer section itself becomes the, applicator, or means for transferring vibrations to. the body. I

Relatively, the outer section is of much p less weight than the inner section so that in so the normal use of the exerciser the inertia ofjthe inner section holds it substantially stationary, while the outer section is reciprocally driven. It .should be understood, however,; that the reciprocal strokes pro: duced bythe machine .will occur so rapidly that the resultingfactionof the machine is. substantially vibratory. I Nevertheless the strokes are amply powerfuland are of sufficient length to produce a thorough and deep movement of the muscles ofthe body part engaged thereby.

More particularly describing the invention with reference tothe drawing, 10 des- 4 ignates generally an inner sectionsin' the form of an elongated frame which is enclosed within a hollow outer member or casing 11f While in the present instance the casing lljis illustrated as being cylindr cal: in formfand the frame member 10 of such construction as to fit therein, it will of course be understood that the casing may have any shape or configuration desired, in which event the frame will also be changed in conformity therewith.

-For convenience in manufacture and assembly it is preferred that the frame be divided transversely to form two portions and 10*, the abutting ends of which are pro- 10 vided with complementary interfitting 'rab beted grooves, as shownat12. .The'itwo portions are rigidly secured togetherin any suitable manner, as by means of a pair of bolts 13 extending between two pairs of transversely extending arms"14 and15 on the portionslOi and 10*, respectively. At either end, the frame carries an end closure 16 for the casing in the form 'of'disk-shaped .mem'bershaving peripheral flanges 17 which 0 extend inwardly into the casing .11 and hav-,.

ing a peripheral contour conforming to that ofthe casing. The end closures 16 may be secured to the frame by means of bolts 18, which bolts may also serve as a means for 2, securing a handle 19 to each end of the.

frame. Preferably the handles 19 extend I outwardly from the frame on the axis thereof, and one of the bolts 18 may he tubular v to provide a passageway for an electriccable 3o: 20 into the interior of the device.

The disposition.andarrangement of the parts, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is such that the casing 11 is engaged and supported only by the end closures 16, there being a' 5; slight'clearance between the end. closures and the Teasing to permit-relative sliding movement therebetween. Thus, the end closures constitute guides forthe casing in the movement of the casing relative to the frame. I 49; The frame 10 supports the driv ng means for] producing the relative movement between the frame and the casing. To this end, 7

the inner portion of the frame portion 10* is substantially annular to receive 1 and en- 7 gage the casing of an electric motor 21, the

armature shaft 22 of which extends substant ally axially of the frame to-wardthe other frame portion 10 Themotor 21 may be mounted bodily in theframe "portion 1O 59 01, as illustrated in Figs. land 2, the structure may be simplified by utilizing the frame.

-' portion 10to support certain of the motor parts. Thus, the arms 14 onlthe porti on 10", which receive the bolts 13 for securingthe two frame portions together, maybe employed tomount the brushes 23 (Fig. 2)' of the motor, and a bearing 23*2in the frame portion 10 receives the inner end of the armature shaft 22. The'interior of the de- 6QT'YlCe may be ventilated to prevent over-heatingof the motor. by providing a series of.

I apertures 16 in the end closures l6. The other frame portion10 ;is provided with agear housingj24 (see Figs. 1 and 3) 52 which has. an open side face, and further is provided with an axially extending bore which receives an extending end 25 of the armature shaft 22. A worm 26 is mounted within the housing 24 on the end 25 of the.

shaft 22 for engagement with a wormwheel 27 carried upon a shaft 28 extending transversely of the axis of the frame. The shaft 28 is journaled at one end in a closed bear ingf29' rigidly fixed in a bore 30 formed in the side wall of the housing 24. The other the gear housing through a face plate 31 which closesthe open face of the gearhousing Preferably the face plate 31 carries a gasket arrangement for preventing the escape of end of'the shaft. 28 extends outwardly of lubrication from the housing, which gasket 7 also serves as a bearing for theoutwardlyextending end of the shaft 28. 'As shown in Fig. 3, a sleeve 32 is secured to the face plate in any suitable manner, as .by bending the. margin of the plate about the aperture throughwhich the shaft 28 extends inward:

ly to form. a flange 33 to which the. sleeve 32 issoldered or welded. The sleeve 32 is of such thicknessthat it extends between the face plate 31 and the adjacent face of the worm wheel 27, and the external periphery of the sleeve. adjacent the worm wheel is rabbeted, as at 34. The recess thusdesignated by the groove 34, the flange 33, and the adjacent face of theworm wheel 27jcontains a quantity of packing material 39 (Fig. 2) extending through the link 38 on.

either side of the crank pin 37 into engage ment with an annular groove 40. (Fig. 3) in the crank pin.

InfFigs. 1, 2", and 4 the means for' connect; ing the crank. 36. and the casing 11' isshown,

whereby the rotary. movement oflthe crank is translated into reciprocatory movement of.

the casing. An annular ring 41 loosely en-' circlesv a narrow portion ofv the outer end of the framesection 10 and is releasably secured tothe inner wall of the casing by such means as screws 42. The annular ring 41 carries a shaft 43 extending transversely of the cas ing and positioned to receive the free end of the link 38, displacement of which, axially of theshaft 43, may be prevented by means of apair of pins through the shaft on either side of the link. It will be apparent, therefore,

that the motor rotates thecrank 36 through the intermediate driving connections of the worm 26 and worm wheel 27 and shaft '28, and the crank in turn imparts areciprocatory movement of the casing axially of the de vice by means of the link 38, shaft 43, and annular ring 41.

In order to lessen the force of any vibra tory impulses which may be imparted to the armature shaft of the motor, a thrust bearing is preferably provided for the end of the armature shaft in the gear housing. A simple form of bearing is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising a stud 44 having a screw threaded engagement with the gear housing, and extending thereinto in axial alinement with the armature shaft 22. Opposed recesses in the adj acent ends of the armature shaft 22 and the stud 44 receive a bearing ball 45. Adjustment of the stud 44, relative to the armature shaft 22, is maintained by means of a lock nut 46 on the outer end of the stud.

Means may be provided for preventing relative rotation between the casing'll, as represented by the annular ring 41, and the frame. a means is shown as comprising a short pin 47 having a screw threaded engagement with the ring 41 and extending inwardly of the center thereof into engagement with a slot 48 formed in an adjacent portion of the frame section 10 Preferably the pin 47 carries an anti-friction roller 49 thereon.

The general appearance of the device simulates quite closely that of an ordinary rolling pin, and in the operation and use of the device it is applied to the body parts in substantially the same manner as arolling pin would be handled. Thus, both hands grasp the handles 19 and the casing is pressed againstany part of the body, thereby imparting the vibratory movement of the easing to the body. Inasmuch as the vibratory strokes are rapid and powerful, the entire mass of body tissue underlying the part engaged by the casing will be thoroughly massaged and stimulated. Consequently, by moving the casing more or less rapidly across the body, large areas thereof may be very easily treated.

During the passage of the machine across the body surface, the casingmay be caused to slide relative to the body surface or, without interfering with the operation of the machine, the handles may be allowed to turn in the users hands so that the casing rolls across the engaged surface. It is contemplated,'however, that the user may hold the handles firmly and yet allow the casing to roll across the body. To this end, the handles 19 may be loosely mounted in a well known manner upon the shanks of the bolts 18 for rotational movement relative thereto. For

the same purpose relative rotation between Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, such.

the casing. The groove is engaged by a series of short studs: 51 extending inwardly from V and rigid with the casing. Consequently, the reciprocation of the ring by the crank 36 will be translated to the casing through the engagement of the groove 50 and studs 51,

frame. y

In addition to the vibratory effect which produced by the direct application of the casing to the body, the machine is capable of producing body vibrations of a: different character which are particularly beneficial to the muscles in the upper part of the body.

In this use ofthe machine, theoperator grasps thevc'asing 11 at about its'middle and holds the machine at arms-lengthfrom the body. The vibratorystrokes of the relatively heavy inner section of the machinein this,

position have sufficient power to produce vibration in the operators arms,which is transmitted throughout the muscles in theupper 'while the casingrotatesWithrespect to the part of the-body. By changing the angular,

the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the inventon as expressed in the appended claims. p 2 Iclaim as my invention:

1. An exercising and massaging device comprising, in combination, atwo partelongated frame, means for securing said parts together to form aisingle unit, an electric motor mounted inv one part of said frame, a

crank mounted in the other part .of said 7 frame, a worm and worm gear connection be-' tween said motor and said crank, a tubular casing encloslngsald frame and capable of axial sliding movement relative thereto, an

outwardly from said end closures, a ring.

member rigidly secured within said casing for movement therewith, a link connecting said crank and said ring member whereby driven movement of said crank effects a reciprocating movement of said casing relative to said frame and end closures, and a pin and slot connection between said frame and ring memberrto prevent relative rotative movement between said casing and frame. V

2. A portable exerciser and massaging device comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, a motor mounted in saidframe, a

crank mountedvinsaid frame, driving connectlonsbetween sald motor and crank, hand pieces for anfoperator secured rigidly to said frame at either end thereof, atubular memher enclosing said frame and adapted for axial sliding movement relative thereto, and

driving connections between said crank and said member for translating the rotary motion of said crank into rapid reciprocatory movement of saidmember.

3. A portable exercising and massaging devlce comprising, in combination, a hollow casing, an electric-motor mounted within said casing,'said motor and casing havmg relative movement one to the other amally of the. casing, and dr ving connectionsflbet'ween said motor and said casing I for produclng such movement 1n rapld re-- 2' ciprocatory strokes.

4; A, portable exerciser and massaging device compris1ng,'1n comblnation, an elongated casing, means at oppos te ends thereof for i v supporting-said casing in a users hands, said casing and said supporting means being arranged for movement relative to each other in a direction longitudinally of said casing, and driving means for producing such relative movement in the form of rapid recipro V catory strokes.

"5. A portable exerciser and massagingde-J vice comprising, in combination, a casing, means for supporting said casing in a users hand and arrangedto permit relative movement'between saidcasing and said means,

' and driving means for producing a relative reciprocatory movement between said casing and'sald supporting means, said supporting means being of substantially greater weight than said casing so that the major portion of saidreciprocatory movement is by said casing." p

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aifixed my signature.

- IRVEN'H. WILSEY.f 

